The reigning champions of France, Lille, come from the north of France, close to the Belgian border. A big city, top class football and tickets are never a problem. It makes Lille the ideal daytrip from the Netherlands, Belgium or even the south of the UK. Or make it a weekend, because Lille is a perfect city to grap a couple of beers.
You could have won an awful load of money if you'd placed a bet before last season on Lille as champions. Against all odds, Les Dogues managed to stay ahead of the seemingly unbeatable Paris Saint-Germain. This year, they had to take a step back, but they're still doing great in the Champions League. Lille is good fun, no matter what.
Often, a football club moving to a new stadium goes accompanied by heavy complaints about leaving the old place. Not in Lille, where for the fans a new stadium couldn't come too soon. Their temporary Stadium Nord was an outdated track and field stadium, lacked any form of atmosphere and for big European nights, LOSC had to move 200 kilometers down south to the Stade de France. No ideal situation, but finally, they have their own top of the bill stadium. The Stade Pierre Mauroy in suburb Villeneuve d'Ascq a multifunctional arena for 50.000 people, with a roof and made to host many different sporting events and concerts. Maybe it doesn't tickle all your football culture senses, but if you see where Lille had to come from, it's truly a blessing.
Lille played since the founding of the club in Stade Grimonprez-Jooris, close to the city center and next to the Citadel of Lille. Around the turn of the century, realization came that if le LOSC wanted to battle the French top teams, a new stadium was necessary, preferably at the same spot. But because of the historical place of Grimonprez-Jooris, next to the 17th century Citadel, the plans met a lot of resistance and lawsuits, resulting in the plans being canceled. The old stadium disappeared entirely, except for one thing: the Monument Henri Jooris, for the man who the stadium was named after and former chairman of Olympique Lillois, forerunner of Lille OSC. It used to stand right in front of the main entrance and hasn't moved since, but stands completely lonely now along the Allée du Train de Loos.
Awaiting the new stadium, Lille played for eight years in Stadium Nord, in Villeneuve d’Ascq. No picnic, because the stands were too far from the field, a running track and a lot of uncovered seats. At the same time, it's the stadium where Lille regained their status as a French top team, where they sent many teams home without points and where a certain Eden Hazard became one of the best players of Ligue 1. The absolute climax came in 2011, when Lille were crowned champions for the first time in over 50 years. It makes that some Lille fans still have warm feelings for the cold stadium at the Avenue de la Châtellenie, not far from Stade Pierre Mauroy.
Even though Lille plays quite far from the city these days, the ties are closer than ever. You could see it after the last title of Lille: the final whistle wasn't even blown yet, but in the streets of Lille, many thousands gathered at the Grand Place to celebrate the championship. This beautiful square is the heart of Lille, and usually the meeting point for international away fans as well.
You can buy tickets for Lille at the official website of the club, also for the big matches in Ligue 1 and the Champions League. For people who hate to sit too low, please bear in mind that at football matches, the numbering of the rows starts at row 16, which is the lowest row and where you'll sit at the same height as the pitch.
On the roads around Lille the Stade Pierre Mauroy is well indicated, but sometimes still onder the name 'Grand Stade'. It's easy accessible, right next to motorway N227. Don't be deceived by the floodlights you'll probably see above the motorway, its the former Stadium Nord. Follow the signs to one of the many parkings around Stade Pierre Mauroy, wherefore you can buy tickets on Lille's website too.
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